Ethan walked faster and faster, his feet almost tripping over roots and stones as the forest grew darker around him. His throat felt dry, the air suddenly heavy, and he started feeling thirsty, like the trees themselves were swallowing up all the oxygen.
Just as he wiped the sweat from his forehead, he heard it.
A voice.
"Hey..."
A soft, sweet, almost musical voice, drifting through the air like a dangerous perfume.
Every single hair on Ethan's body stood up straight.
His heart slammed against his ribs.
Was this a witch? A forest ghost? Had all the horror stories he made fun of come back to haunt him?!
He tried to pretend he didn't hear it.
He walked faster. Much faster.
Then—
"Help me!"
A desperate, broken cry pierced the silence.
Ethan gulped so hard he nearly choked. "Nope. Nope. Nope. Not looking back. I watched enough horror movies for this."
He tightened his grip on his jacket and kept walking even faster, almost running now, staring stubbornly at the ground.
